I got this groundbreaking email from Senator Specter, and you can tell that he’s on the case, with these oh-so-important questions about the future of our nation:
Dear Friends,
Judge Sotomayor comes to today’s Senate confirmation hearing with an outstanding record: academically at Princeton and Yale; professionally as an Assistant District Attorney, and then serving on the District Court and the Circuit Court.
Not withstanding that fine record, it is the constitutional duty of the Senate to make inquiries and have a hearing. It is also a good opportunity for the public to gain a better understanding of how the Supreme Court works. For example, I intend to take up the question of the caseload of the Court which has been very light [read my letter to Judge Sotomayor]. My suggestion is that the Supreme Court could contribute more to the clarity and uniformity of the law by taking more cases.
Similarly, I’d like Judge Sotomayor’s opinion on televising the Supreme Court [read my letter to Judge Sotomayor]. I have long been an advocate of doing that, and I introduced legislation which has twice been reported out of the Judiciary Committee to televise the Court because they make the cutting edge decisions of our time. Judge Sotomayor has special insights because, on the District Court a few years back, she was part of a pilot program where her trial was televised.
Way to keep yourself relevant, there, Senator. This is historic, because it will hopefully be the last Supreme Court nomination hearing you’ll be part of as a US Senator (hopefully Congressman Toomey will beat the Democratic candidate, Congressman Sestak)!